Format Object (Line Color pane)

When you change options in this dialog box, the changes are immediately applied to your shape, making it easy to see the effects of the changes in your shape or other object without closing the dialog box. However, since the changes are instantly applied, it is not possible to click Cancel in this dialog box. To remove changes, you must click Undo
on the Quick Access Toolbar for each change that you want to remove.

You can simultaneously undo multiple changes that you made to one dialog box option, as long as you did not make changes to another dialog box option in between.

You may want to move the dialog box so that you can see both the shape and the dialog box at the same time.

No line To make a line transparent or colorless, click this option.

Solid line To add color and transparency to a line, click this option.

Gradient line To add a gradient fill to a line, click this option.

Solid line

Color To choose a color for a line, click Color
, and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that is not in the theme colors, click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme.

Transparency To specify how much you can see through a shape, move the Transparency slider or enter a number in the box next to the slider. You can vary the percentage of transparency from 0 (fully opaque, the default) to 100% (fully transparent).

Gradient line

A gradient fill is a gradual blending together of two or more fill colors.

A shape fill that gradually changes between three colors

Preset colors To choose a built-in gradient fill for the line, click Preset Colors
, and then click the option that you want.

Type To specify the direction to use when drawing the gradient fill, select an option from the list. The Type that you select determines the available Direction.

Direction To choose a different progression of color and shades, click Direction, and then click the option that you want. The Directions that are available depend on the gradient Type that you choose.

Angle To specify the angle that the gradient fill is rotated within the shape, click the degree that you want from the list. This option is available only when you select Linear as the Type.

Gradient stops

Gradient stops represent the individual colors that make up a gradient. If you want to create a gradient that fades from red to green to blue, you need three gradient stops: a red gradient stop, a blue one, and a green one. Gradient stops are defined by four properties: Position, Color, Brightness, and Transparency. Each of these values applies to the gradient stop itself, not the overall fill.

Gradient stop slider The gradient fill is made up of several gradient stops, but you can change only one gradient stop at a time. Click on the gradient stop that you want to edit, and the Color, Position, Brightness, and Transparency options will reflect the current settings for that gradient stop.

Gradient stop slider

Add gradient stop
To add a gradient stop, click
, and then set the Color, Brightness, and Transparency options that you want.

Remove gradient stop
To delete a gradient stop, click the stop on the slider that you want to delete, and then click
.

Color To choose the color used for the gradient stop, click Color
, and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that is not in the theme colors, click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme.

Position To set the location of the gradient stop, enter a number in the box or move the gradient stop on the gradient slider. The position of the stop determines where the color appears in the gradient.

Brightness Move the Brightness slider, or enter a number in the box next to the slider.

Transparency To specify how much you can see through at the specified Position, move the Transparency slider or enter a number in the box next to the slider. You can vary the percentage of transparency from 0 (fully opaque, the default setting) to 100% (fully transparent).